Non-Disparagement

Definition

The contract clause that promises if you quietly disappear and don't bad-mouth the company, they'll quietly disappear too. Prevents you from telling the truth about why you actually left.

Example Usage

The severance agreement requires non-disparagement, so I can't explain on LinkedIn why I was fired for 'strategic realignment.'

Origin

Legal term dating back centuries; adopted in employment contracts during litigious 1980s-90s

Fun Fact

Non-disparagement clauses are so routine that job candidates barely question them, yet they effectively buy corporate silence

Source: Employment law and contract terminology

Related Terms

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pension

The mythical pot of money your employer promises to give you after decades of service, assuming the company still exists and hasn't discovered creative ways to restructure it away. It's the old-school retirement plan that's slowly going extinct, replaced by 401(k)s that shift all the investment risk to you. Europeans still have them; Americans mostly have fond memories.

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equitable

Fair and impartial in a way that considers everyone's circumstances, not just treating everyone identically like some kind of corporate robot. It's the difference between giving everyone the same size ladder and giving everyone what they need to reach the same height. In legal contexts, it refers to principles of fairness that supplement rigid law with actual justice.

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job shadowing

Following an employee around during their workday to observe and learn about their role. Like being someone's awkward, silent companion for eight hours while pretending to absorb information.

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